9W2DTR Ham blog pages

Time is never enough!

2011-12-12T18:03:00.003+08:00

My blog have not been updated for so long... my apologies to my friends and visitors who follows my blog. At the moment, not much of project is done. My time is occupied with work and also caring for my little boy born four months ago.

He is now 4 months and definitely bring joy and happiness to me and my wife. I guess, my diy projects will be on hold for a moment. Maybe, done is the slowest pace ever....

UNUN

2011-04-22T23:20:00.002+08:00

My recent project was making use of the Amidon T-200-2 core to make a UNUN for the vertical antenna.

Below is the picture for the mentioned project. However, I have yet to test it as I am busy with work at the moment. That is also the reason why there is not much update in the blog.

Sent by DiGi from my BlackBerry® Smartphone

TesT

2011-04-22T23:15:00.001+08:00

Sent by DiGi from my BlackBerry® Smartphone

APRS... my new toy.. antenna project on hold.. :)

2010-10-14T21:35:00.011+08:00

Okay, here’s the review for the Fox Delta products – Foxtrak & Foxview3..

I received the package and it is very well packed into a nice box. I actually bought one Foxtrak kit, one Foxtrak PCB and one Foxview3 PCB. Here, I will talk more about the Foxtrak and a bit about Foxview3 and the Byonics GPS2 receiver.

The Foxtrak (Kit)

In the above photo, you can see the Foxtrak PCB and the metal casing. FD offers this as free with the kit.

The photo below is the components for the kit and you’ll notice how they actually took some efforts to label each component in their respective plastic bag.

After verifying that all the components are correct, I fired up my soldering iron and started the assembly process. It was quick… provided you have a good clean soldering iron with some decent amount of flux.. With or without will take you there but I prefer to clean the soldering tip every so often before soldering any components..

A photo of fully assembled Foxtrak minus the jumpers.

What I found while putting it all together was minor but worth to be included in the documentations especially in the schematic. The LEDs in the schematic is labeled as Pwr, CD, GPS and Tx but did not state the LED colors. But it is up to individual preferences to choose whatever color you want.

The casing is designed to the Foxtrak dimensions and it fits nicely. However, there is some minor issue. Since the casing came with a PVC insulator, it is too thick and the hole for the Instant Tx switch is a bit too low. This causes the push switch get stuck in “on” position. You can overcome this issue by replacing the insulator with a much thinner material.

Programming it was easy especially when the Null Modem PCB is bundled in together with the kit. As stated in the documentation, you can use other firmware by changing the PIC.

Byonics GPS2 Receiver.

I have one unit of this receiver and upon checking from Byonics website, the pin matched the Foxtrak pinout. After all, TT & Foxtrak is basically similar. I selected 5V for GPS power by installing the jumper on H1 (please refer to the documentations, otherwise you’ll fry the receiver if you mistakenly feed it with 12V.

To my horror, the Foxtrak did not get any signal from the GPS2. I then decided to test it with TT4 (from 9W2RUT) and also the Kenwood D710 and it works. I even use the GPS monitor to grab the data from the receiver and it is perfectly it good conditions. Oh well… maybe the Foxtrak is not working… I then decided to use GPS Simulator (thanks to 9W2RUT for giving me the software) and the Foxtrak works too…

What the heck is going on??? Could it be the signal RS232 signal is too low from the GPS2?? Maybe… How did I solve this issue?? I actually added a MAX232 between the GPS2 and Foxtrak and it works !!!!!

Using the GPS2 with Foxview 3 has no issue since Foxview 3 have the MAX232 included in the circuit. This is where I get the idea…

Using Foxview 3 as Tracker & Viewer ( I can’t afford the D710)

If you plan to use it as a Tracker & Viewer, Foxview can do that but with some minor modifications and limitations.

The limitations are,… the beacon interval is not as intelligent as the EZtrak, TT or Foxtrak itself. It is fixed to the timing you set using the Hyper Terminal and it does not change when your speed is faster or slower… Maybe FD can combine the Foxtrak with Foxview (include the MAX232) for those who intend to use it as Tracker & Viewer.

As per the modifications to enable the Foxview to accept GPS signal, Dinesh ( from Fox Delta) had already included it in the 2010 version. This also includes the mods done by Benoit Matral (F4EYW) which improve the FoxDigi beacon reception. FYI, Foxview3 is a combination of FoxDigi & Foxview). Here’s the link to Benoit mods. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/foxdelta/message/248 or visit his website at http://f4eyw.free.fr/fxw3/foxdigi-mx614_enhancement.html

I did the mods on my Foxview 3 and I like it. The only downside is the beacon rate.

The documentation for the setting is also a bit blurry to me.. I guess someone can help to make it easier to understand. And perhaps, improve the firmware so the beacon is more intelligent like other tracker.

The mods to enable it as a tracker & viewer are also not properly explained in Fox Delta website. I only found it from here. http://www.enide.net/webcms/index.php?page=wb8wga-tnc

The Variable Capacitor & Magnetic Loop Antenna Project - update 2 Sept 2010

2010-09-02T23:41:00.002+08:00

After some tinkering.... I decided to use a single cable for both RF and DC... I planned to make use of the FT897D ability to tune the antenna instead of having a separate box just to tune the variable capacitor. Since the FT897D has a built-in circuit to control the YAESU ATAS screwdriver antenna, it should be able to do the same on this project.

I took some gears from an old CD player and a motor, coupled it with the motor controller that I made sometime ago for the Screwdriver Antenna project. I still need to make the Bias-T circuit before I can test the motorized capacitor. So far, with manual tuning, I can tune to 10m & 20m. I decided to abandon the wide-band loop project as I realized it require a much larger capacitance. It is very tricky to get a high maximum capacitance while having a lower minimum capacitance...

The Variable Capacitor & Magnetic Loop Antenna Project

2010-08-08T20:27:00.005+08:00

I finally decided to start the project after being delayed for a long-long time... getting a 1mm aluminum sheet is not so easy as most of the seller only sells 4' x 8' size.
I used one of the drawing found on the internet and cut the sheets using my DIY CNC router that I build a few years ago..
The loop will be made from a aluminum bicycle rim for now. In the future, I am planning to use 30mm aluminum tubes but will settle with bicycle rim for now..At the moment, I have not measured the capacitance of the butterfly capacitor as I do not have the capacitance meter. Will leave that to 9M2CF I guess.. During testing with the new capacitor, I can tune to 10m but unable to reach 20m.. I need to increase the loop diameter and will do that when I decided to rebuild it with the 30mm tube later...

TM UNIFI??

2010-07-29T22:30:00.003+08:00

The much awaited UNIFI Broadband service is finally here and I managed to get it installed early this month after it was made available at the place where I live.
Previously, I am using Streamyx 1Mb and I have to pay RM110/mth. Just by adding another RM40/mth, I get 5Mb, IPTV, 2Gb email and the best is... It uses Fiber Optic cable all the way into my room. That's mean, I don't have to worry about lightning strike coming through telephone line.
Now I wish the TNB power can be supplied using Fiber Optic too.. hahahaah

Cam Lock

2010-06-13T22:52:00.003+08:00

Nothing much to say about this for now... mind is ticking and having sleepless night... sigh!!!!

Magnetic Loop Antenna

2010-06-09T21:43:00.005+08:00

Last Sunday, I finally decided to use my free time to make something that I've always wanted to make... this time, without the the need of using the CNC machine...

The variable capacitors that I have in my previous tuner is taken out and the bicycle rim that I bought a few months ago is finally cut and drilled for M3 screws in order to attach the cable lugs.

The white PVC plumbing pipe that I bought about the same time with the bicycle rim is also put to use..

It took me about 1 hour and finally, I completed the 24" Magnetic Loop Antenna made from bicycle rim... I took it outside my backyard and tuned to 10m to get the highest pink noise level. Then, the moment of truth part 1... I set to 28.480Mhz and used a CW key to test.. meaning that, I set the transceiver to SSB and press the CW key to transmit a short tone... SWR reading is HIGH.. then, with a slight fine tuning by turning the capacitor, the SWR is now at a good level ( my transceiver does not have the numerical reading except by just displaying a bar, and its only at 1 or 2 bar) So, I guess it works...

Then I tried to tune to 40m... I can get a good pink noise level but I have no way to test the SWR as I my license does not permit me to do that... but I managed to listen to a radio broadcast on 9Mhz region at 5-9..

So, I will keep trying to catch some QSO on 28.480Mhz and will try to make a contact to get a signal report. That way I will know if my antenna works or not...

Here are the picture of the Magnetic Loop Antenna that I made:-

My CNC is finally up again!!

2010-05-23T21:42:00.010+08:00

My CNC is now up and running after 2 years being disassembled. Now, it has a new heart.. driven by G540 from Geckodrive, USA. The G540 is housed in the previous driver casing but with a new power supply.

It is powered with 48VDC 500VA (10A). I bought the toroidal transformer from Jalan Pasar. For now, the CNC is sitting on its new table, which is custom made by a small workshop. However, I am not satisfied with the metal structures as it is too thin and too light. I need a very heavy and solid structure in order to withstand the vibration generated by the CNC when the axis is moved in a very high speed. Therefore, I need to slow down the axis movement speed temporarily until the new table is made..

Gecko

2010-04-11T18:39:00.002+08:00

I am waiting for the arrival of Gecko.... courtesy of 9W2BSR. Time seems to be very slow...

Lack of tools

2010-01-25T22:10:00.003+08:00

Moved in to the new house mid-dec last year. My shack is somehow still in a mess. Most things is already out of the boxes. My workbench is rather still not sufficient to accommodate most of the things I need to use.

The radio is still in the box. Antenna not installed. CNC not assembled. In order to re-assemble my CNC, I need a rigid and heavy duty table to support the weight of almost 120kg or maybe more.. With a rigid and heavy table, I may be able to reduce the noise generated by the CNC and also possible to run it at a much faster speed.

In order to have this, I may have to acquire the most important tools... a welding machine. Contacted one of my friend to sells these machines and he suggested me to get a used unit since it's only for my home use... Hmmmm... perhaps a used unit capable of argon welding maybe....

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-24T11:39:00.002+08:00

Dear All,

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2010.
All the best and drive safely if you are traveling. Have a safe journey and happy holiday!!!! ho ho ho ho ho......

till then,

73

de 9w2dtr

P/S.. sorry for not updating my blog for sometime already.. I was busy with some personal matters and house renovation & moving... after all the hassle, I may be able to bring in some interesting update later...

Amateur ham radio users to contact orbiting space station

2009-09-11T00:06:00.002+08:00

Published: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:00:00 PM
Updated: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:42:39 PM

Amateur ham radio users to contact orbiting space station

KUALA LUMPUR: Fancy chatting with someone in the International Space Station orbiting the earth? You may get a chance to if you’re among the participants at this year’s HITBSecConf — an annual international network-security conference.

The special session will see the Malaysian Amateur Radio Emergency Service Society (Mares) — a non-profit, non-government organisation — attempt to establish a live communications feed with the station during the conference.

Normally, Mares members provide communications service in times of disasters or when normal communications channels are either down or congested.

The session is one of the highlights of HITBSecConf 2009, which is scheduled for Oct 5-8 at The Crowne Plaza Mutiara hotel here.

Also while the conference focuses on network security, its lock-picking workshop is popular among the participants.

This year’s workshop will be run by members from Toool — The Open Organisation of Lockpickers — and will provide attendees with the opportunity to try their hand at picking locks.

They’ll also get a chance to crack safes while some of the locks that’ll be worked on will be provided by the public.

Dhillon Andrew Kannabhiran, founder and CEO of Hack In The Box (M) Sdn Bhd which organises the HITBSecConf series, said the objective of the event is to teach people how to better protect their property — both in the real world and in cyberspace.

In the case of lockpicking, he said, “Many people are unaware of how easy it is to compromise locks and other physical security mechanisms.”

He said the lock-picking workshop would educate participants in a fun and interesting manner. “Attendees are encouraged to bring their own locks from home,” he added.

For more information on HITBSecConf 2009, go to http://tinyurl.com/mosxve.

The conference has been held in Malaysia since 2003. It is endorsed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and industry, the Malaysian National Computer Confederation, and the Malaysian Multimedia Development Corporation.

PIC-RF Pcb

2009-07-17T23:50:00.004+08:00

After learning how to use the EAGLE Pcb & Schematic Capture software from 9W2BSR, this is what I manage to come our with. Although I've been using Protel / Altium before, I feel that EAGLE is much easier and friendlier compared to PROTEL /ALTIUM.

As mentioned by 9W2BSR, the board below is designed to fit in a plastic box for our PIC-RF project.

UHF RF Module

2009-06-22T10:04:00.003+08:00

Finally, the 2 weeks wait is over. I received the UHF RF Transceiver module. We purchased 10 sets of it and will be using it for some experiment.

We have yet to decide what to experiment but this module is very interesting. It has the SPI interface and can be coupled with SPI capable micro controllers such as PICxxxxx. For now, will have to start thinking again...

2009-06-02T18:06:00.001+08:00

K9 Needs Help

2009-05-12T11:33:00.011+08:00

While I was on my way to Singapore on 7th May 2009, I read about this in the Sun newspaper and it kept me thinking... I took a 6am bus from Chorus Hotel to Singapore for work trip. During the whole journey, the sad picture of the dogs condition prompted me to contact 9W2BSR and 9W2XI. The reason why I contacted them is to inform them the idea and seek their suggestion.

Well.. I am so happy that 9W2BSR (Basir) and 9W2XI (Wilson) actually agreed and supported the idea. The idea was "HAMS SAVES THE DOGS"...

I understand that we all have our day jobs and we may not be able to help them personally. Therefore.. to those who are willing to contribute can submit their contribution by contacting:-

The Rescue Mission Secretariat at +6012 378 3730 (Janet) or +6012 320 8090 (Zalina).The Sec's E-mail is dogrescue.pk@gmail.com

TV Smith at tvsmith@mycen.com.my or Sabrina Yeap at yeapwen@yahoo.com

As a response to this plea... I, 9W2DTR (Dexter) & XYL (Joyce) will personally contribute RM500.00 for the mission. Although it is not that much, I hope with the rest of the contribution from others will add up and makes it more meaningful.

I wish and hope that the readers of my blog will support and contribute in any way.
To those who would like to do so.. please contact

The Rescue Mission Secretariat at +6012 378 3730 (Janet) or +6012 320 8090 (Zalina).The Sec's E-mail is dogrescue.pk@gmail.com

TV Smith at tvsmith@mycen.com.my or Sabrina Yeap at yeapwen@yahoo.com

taken from http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue/

About 300 stray dogs were rounded up
by Pulau Ketam residents and deported
to an isolated island to fend for themselves.

Over half of them are already dead and the
remaining ones may not live long. A rescue
mission is being mounted and your help is needed.

Please read the full story here

Updates here

The residents of Pulau Ketam sent some 300 stray dogs to exile on a remote island where the harsh conditions almost certainly guarantee a horrible death. Of the 300 dogs sent there, more than three-quarters are presumed to be already dead. I traveled to the island with Sabrina Yeap of Furry Friends Farm and managed to save only one dog on this reconnaissance trip. We did see several other starving and dying dogs along the mangrove shore.

I am mounting an urgent rescue mission to capture and transport the remaining survivors back to Sabrina's Furry Friends Farm animal shelter. But time is running out and there might be only skeletons and carcasses left to collect on our next trip. Boat hire is expensive there. It is a tourist area and it has already cost me a few hundred ringgit for boat hire alone, so far. The rescued dogs cannot be transported on the regular ferries.

Almost nobody will lift a finger to help without a fee. This is understandable. The locals are already shaking their heads in disbelief that there are outsiders who want to save the animals they so casually discarded. Instead of pointing fingers and antagonising them, we need their co-operation to help save the unfortunate creatures. In the process, we also hope to educate the islanders on better treatment of animals. It would be an impossible mission if we didn't win their hearts.

If you are unable to help directly, please help by forwarding this appeal to other compassionate folks who you feel might be able to make some monetary contributions.

Apart from boat hire, we need money to buy cages, to pay people to help catch them, to hire land transport to send the rescued animals to veterinary clinics, pay for vet fees, send the recovered ones to the shelter and to feed and house them for life. I can go on!

To contribute or help, e-mail TV Smith at tvsmith@mycen.com.my or Sabrina Yeap at yeapwen@yahoo.com

Update:

Furry Friends Farm
CIMB 1457-000-1182-05-6 (Current Account)
*For online interbank transfer, if it prompts for Recipient ID/Business Reg: Just type in 5766

Contributors from abroad (and Malaysia) can also:

Send by PayPal to tvsmith@gmail.com

Please retain transaction record / slip for verification and audit purposes.

Update:

For info or enquiries:
The Rescue Mission Secretariat at +6012 378 3730 (Janet) or +6012 320 8090 (Zalina)
The Sec's E-mail is dogrescue.pk@gmail.com (see updates page for info)

Fellow bloggers, you can also help by embedding the appeal poster above to your blog and linking to http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue (this page)

We are aware it is a monumental task and appreciate all forms of support, assistance, suggestions, encouragement and your prayers.

Thank you and don't forget to view the pictures of the dogs in order to appreciate their plight.

Visit also Furry Friends Farm's Blog / Website

TV Smith

3rd May 2009

My CORAL 8A-40 Full Range Drive in TQWT enclosure and the 6EW7 SE amplifier

2009-03-25T22:03:00.005+08:00

Got my Nikon SB-600 external flash.. then I decided to take the picture of my full range speaker and the vacuum tube audio amplifier using my Nikon D60.. My room looks so messy... I do my audio listening, QSO, soldering etc in this room... fortunately, the cnc is not assembled and stored in another room...

The beauty of Vacuum Tubes...

2009-02-25T12:00:00.005+08:00

It has been a long time I left my Audiophile hobby.. It all started when I was still studying and built my first solid-state audio amplifier based on the Motorola MJ15004 transistors.

Then, after listening and playing with it for quite sometimes, it was sold to a friend which is now a long gone friend.. lost contact. I started again but not with solid-state.... I have build my first vacuum tube amplifier based on EL34 tubes configured in single ended mode. Wow.. that was my first vacuum tube audio amplifier. However, it did not last long too.. this time, the output transformer gone kaput. The primary winding open circuit due to the bias current is to high.. It was waste as the output transformer is given by 9W2ECG. The output transformer made by TDK Japan and it's no longer in production. I shouldn't have thrown it away though...

Unable to enjoy my own audio system at home is really boring again... I build another one.. this time using KT88 tubes.. but in push-pull design using Hammond output transformer... and configured in ultra-linear push-pull. But i was a disappointment as it doesn;t sound as good as what I have before... sold it to a friend again...

Then built a 12W single ended using 300B tubes and paired with Audio Note output transformer. I actually build the Reichert 300B circuit, housed in a mirror finish stainless steel casing. All the parts used is premium.. Kiwame resistor, Blackgate audio grade capacitors, Audio Note copper foil coupling capacitor and poin to point circuit. NO PCBs!

This time, the 12 watter amplifier push me to the ground!! The fat lady sang! with a sweet warm and clear sound driving my midrange JBL speaker. NO! it's not enough yet.. my JBL speaker cant deliver what the 300B is supposed to have... frustration again... I've been conned by a man who promised me to sell this amplifier at his shop.. 3 day after I sent the amplifier to his shop, he claimed that it was stolen.. what the heck!! He supposed to compensate me but that was just a promise.. up to today.. I only receive 2% of the money... so.. that was it.. I quit! After all, I have to move to Penang to work and I dont have a proper place... Sold all my other equipments... Then all became a grand father story... LOL

A few moons ago, I started to have the itch again... Then, 9W2ECG have the solution for me... this time with a 1.2W single-ended 6EW7 tubes...with a double C-core output transformer...
It is now singing happily in my room driving a pair of extinct driver.. a pair of CORAL 8A-40, 93db/w/m full range driver planted in a TQWT enclosure... yeah baby yeah!! 1.2W with a full range driver is enough.. loud enough if you want it to be loud... forget those with 100W or 300W or even 500W... this little baby is giving out 1.2W r.m.s.... not those peak output or p.m.p.o kind of output.. it's RMS!! But my CD player cant do justice to it.. I need to get another good CD player to deliver those good recordings...

Have you listened to a 2 watter driving a 104db/w/m speaker? Well, that doesn't fit my bills but I did have a chance to listen to it...

It's raining..........

2009-02-06T12:25:00.001+08:00

Capacitive Discharge Spot Welder

2009-01-09T11:32:00.015+08:00

It has been a very busy year end for me...

My magnetic loop antenna project is still on hold as the cnc machine is now disassembled.
I cant run the machine at the new place... boring!

At the moment, I am in the process of making a Capacitive Discharge Spot Welder or Hobby Spot Welder for a friend. It uses a large capacitor bank and a high current triac to dump the energy through a solid copper probe. My current setup have about 190 Joules of energy at 25VDC.

The charging is done via LT1083-adj regulator with current limit and switched using a Solid -state relay. Previously, the mechanical relay I used gone "kaput" as the contact is welded together due to large current surge and sparks.

Magnetic Loop Antenna... anyone??

2008-10-15T22:28:00.002+08:00

Well.. google it if you want to know more about it.... but for those who have experienced it...
the answer is loved it or hate it..

Myself?... yet to be known.. I have a few attempts in building this antenna quiet sometime ago but failed due to the unavailability of a suitable variable capacitors locally... although plenty is available in ebay, diy is still the most attractive solution.

Before I start building, I will need to make and gather a few item..

1. Variable capacitor ( Butterfly type)
2. Low speed DC motor remote controller (thinking of tuning capacitor via coax)
3. 6-10mm copper tubing
4. Aluminum bicycle rim, preferably from 28" road bike
5. Some non conductive mounting and fixtures
6. whatever I feel needed... :)

The very important part that I must first have is the variable capacitor and must be able to go down to the lowest capacitance.. I am thinking of trying to get from 5pf to 200pf with a plate spacing of 1mm.

Therefore, the first stage is to draw and machine the capacitor plates. Stay tuned!!!

Hari Raya Aidilfitri..

2008-09-24T20:17:00.002+08:00

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI to all my muslim friends....

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is just around the corner. My muslim friends will "balik kampung" mostly on friday evening and saturday to meet their beloved family..

I would to take this opportunity to say Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri..
Please drive safely and have a safe journey home....

The month of Ramadhan

2008-09-06T13:18:00.004+08:00

For over one billion Muslims throughout the world, Ramadhan is a special month of the year. During the month of Ramadhan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day. Ramadhan was the month in which the first verses of the holy Qur'an were revealed to Prophet Mohammad. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control. The sighting of the new moon at the end of Ramadhan heralds the celebration of Aidilfitri.

As a non-muslim, I respect my muslim friends who is fasting.. I still remember when we were outstation in JB, I woke up early for 'sahur' and went to work. At the end of the day, we will head for places to "berbuka puasa" with others... I must say, even as a non-muslim, the month of Ramadhan is also a very exciting month for me.

I would like to wish my muslim friends... Selamat Menyambut Puasa Ramadhan.

9W2DTR Ham blog pages

Time is never enough!

UNUN

TesT

APRS... my new toy.. antenna project on hold.. :)

The Variable Capacitor & Magnetic Loop Antenna Project - update 2 Sept 2010

The Variable Capacitor & Magnetic Loop Antenna Project

TM UNIFI??

Cam Lock

Magnetic Loop Antenna

My CNC is finally up again!!

Gecko

Lack of tools

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010

Amateur ham radio users to contact orbiting space station

Published: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:00:00 PMUpdated: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:42:39 PM

Amateur ham radio users to contact orbiting space station

PIC-RF Pcb

UHF RF Module

K9 Needs Help

My CORAL 8A-40 Full Range Drive in TQWT enclosure and the 6EW7 SE amplifier

The beauty of Vacuum Tubes...

It's raining..........

Capacitive Discharge Spot Welder

Magnetic Loop Antenna... anyone??

Hari Raya Aidilfitri..

The month of Ramadhan

Published: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:00:00 PM
Updated: Thursday September 10, 2009 MYT 4:42:39 PM